Beckham Creek Cave Lodge

“Sleep in a natural & historical wonder!”

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge is located in the Buffalo National River country with all the wild beauty of the Ozark countryside. Life here has so much to offer including clean air at an elevation exceeding 1,000 feet. You can arrive via curvy country lanes or by helicopter if you prefer.
Beckham Creek Cave Lodge puts you directly in touch with nature while providing all the amenities of modern technology. With it’s perfect blend of magnificent beauty and superior design this modern accommodation is truly a fit for royalty. Come to Arkansas and experience this natural wonder.
"5 bedroom, 5 bath subterranean CAVE house nestled among approximately 270+/- acres is up for sale! Built with the philosophy that the ongoing preservation of natural beauty is paramount. This one-of-a-kind self contained masterpiece features a gourmet island kitchen boasting ceramic tile flooring, convection stainless steel oven, free standing stainless steel ice maker, island with flat surface cook top, granite countertops, and stainless steel refrigerator! Wine and dine you and your guests with this open floor plan! Step up to your family room offering ceramic tile flooring, custom light fixtures, elegant furniture, and massive cave fountain! Billiards room above kitchen features ceramic tile flooring, gametables, new custom light fixtures, and gorgeous view overlooking helipad and waterfall! Each romantic suite features private luxurious baths!
Other features include: Mile and one half of cave can be explored through the back door of the home! Waterfalls, ponds, 3 wells, Helipad, water reservoir, massive pond, and barn with apartment, stalls, and an office! Navigate one of the many caves located on the property! Go rock climbing, bike/horseback riding, fishing, etc!
Cave enthusiasts have been frequent visitors mapping out 10 of the many caves found so far on the property. The very first visitors to the caves are believed to be the Shawnee Nation. The caves have been actively used since 1823. A pine pitch handmade torch found a quarter mile into the cave verifies people were exploring the cave in the 1800s. During the Civil War, a log cabin was built inside the Beckham Creek Cave but was torn down after the war. It was even reported to have been used by the James Gang hiding from the law. In the 20s, bootlegging had began and a photograph from 1942 shows moonshine still standing from the formation.
The home was built as a bomb shelter by John Hay - The great-great-grandson of U.S. Secretary of State John Milton Hay, the entrepreneur had seen the television nuclear-war movie The Day After and decided to build a haven. Hays, founder of Celestial Seasonings Tea Company, as a preparation for what he believed was looming on the horizon a holocaust. He did some excavation into the mountainside, put up cinder block walls and laid plywood floors, then quit. In 1987, his wife decided the danger was over and convinced her husband to sell.
The cave was then bought by a Mr. Richardson (first name unknown) who thought it would make a great nightclub. He proceeded to do all the interior woodwork plus added a heliport during 1987 and 1988. Over 250 guests from Hollywood came to the grand opening, including Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Selleck, Diana Ross and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played at the opening! It was then purchased and ran as a resort until 1994 when it was purchased by the original owner, John Hay. Not much changed until the current owners acquired the property and have been running the property as part lodge and part vacation home. The present owner has transformed the cave to meet the more modern standards and a more comfortable lifestyle that seems fit for a king!"